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Frank Stillen autobiography

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8057

Scope and Contents

Contains an autobiography written by Frank Stillen, documenting his early life and childhood, military service, time as a German prisoner of war, and other experiences in the war. Also includes a Russian letter. Undated.

Dates

  • date of production not identified

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials in English and Russian.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Frank Stillen autobiography must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical / Historical

Frank Stillen (1912- ) was a Russian soldier in World War II.

Frank Stillen was born on August 29, 1912 in Tracy, Montana. His parents were Frank Tarpin and Johanna Martha Vehar. He was raised by Matt Stillen (Stilinovich before he changed it) and Johanna. He was one of four children. When he was four years old, they moved to Johnson city, Illinois, where his mother held a boarding house. They were then members of the Holy Rollers church. They moved to Belleville, Illinois in 1918. His foster father, Matt Stillen, joined and became very active in the Communist Pary in the 1920s. Because of this involvement, the family moved to Russia in 1922 to restore the industry of the nation. In 1927 and 1928 he went to the Fisherman's Trade School. He lived in various cities in Russia, including Vladivostok and Rostoff, working as a fisherman, shopkeeper, and miner. Several of his family members were arrested in Russia in the late 1930s. In 1939 he graduated from a Russian Industrial Institute as a Heating Engineer. He was conscripted on August 30, 1941 into an army battalion. He was taken as a German prisoner of war during the Second World War, but survived. He lived the rest of his life in Russia.

Extent

3 folders (0.3 linear ft.)

Arrangement

Files left in their original order.

Custodial History

Donated by Jo Ellen Ashworth in 2012.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Jo Ellen Ashworth; 2012.

Appraisal

Ethnic and minority history (20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy 5.V, August 2007.)

Stillen was a Russian-American involved in the Communist Party who later moved to Russia and spent his life there.

Processing Information

Processed; Kelsey Samuelsen, student manuscript processor, and John M. Murphy, curator; 2012.

Title
Register of the Frank Stillen autobiography
Status
Completed
Author
Kelsey Samuelsen, student manuscripts processor
Date
2012 May 24
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States